Gyroscopic apparatus having a means for indicating the inclined position of an airship or the like



April 14, 1925.

GYROSCOPIC APPARA W. OTT TUS HAVING A MEANS FOR INDICATING THE INCLINED POSITION OF AN ARSHIP OR THE LIKE April 14, 1925. .1,533,941

W. OTTO GYROSCOPIC APPARATUS HAVING A MEANS FOR INDICATING THE INCLINED POSITION OF AN AIRSHIP OR THE LIKE Filed Oct. 25. 1924 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jnventor:

v QSA, /Wwmw April 14, 192s. l 1,533,941

W.l OTTO GYROSCOPIG APPARATUS HAVING A MEANS FOR INDICATING THE INCLINED POSITION 0F AN AIRSHIP THE LlKE Filed Oct. 25. 4 3 Sheets-Sheetl 3 Inventor:-

Om @ai L CLM-J- @ICC-WAN point of intersection et the Card-an axes 7 c and c j in order to be adjust-ed in relation to the apparent rotations of the gyroscopic system a with regard to the flying machine. To this end on the u'pper pole of the spherical gyroscopic system a niark a provided in cooperation 'with the prisn #o constructed and arranged in a mannerA that not only the rays or beams coming from the prism are thrown into the eye-piece, but also a portion of the rays or beams coining from the mai-lr u, are transmitted therethrough. The niark n is, as usually, of a light colour on a dark ground and may be rendered visible say by means oi' a lamp located within the gyroscopic system a or by means olf external illumination.

Tl e inner construction and arrangement oit the gyroscopic system a is not shown in the drawings and a description thereof appears to be unnecessary the more so since such construction and arrangement have nothing to do with the present invention and are lrnown to persons skilled in the art. Generally speaking, the construction and arrangement necessarily must be such that a gyroscopic system is adapted to float in a liqui d and said system is adapted to point to lforth and to sutliciently stabilize any rotations about all of the horizontal axes for the purpose in View.

The rotations of the flying machine about the vertical artis are indicated, in the usual manner, and can be read on the compass graduation or scale o forming the equator of the sphere. For the purpose a window p provided in the liquor container m and a vertical steering mark or line may be prorided on the glass of the window. A second pane of glass 8 with a diagrammatically shown image of a flying machine as at fr is located in front of the window p.

ln the drawings it will be seen that the compass graduation or scale o coincides with the horizontal. On any inclination of the dying machine about its longitudinal -axis the image r will adopt the same angular position in relation to the graduation or ceale o as the flying machine occupies in tion to the real horizon, lf the flying n'iachine ascends the image r apparently iocs down in relation to the graduation or scale o and vice versa. Further it must be noted that, in using the apparatus, the steering niark or line, contrasting with the usual reading, mores towards the left hand side in relation to the Zero point which is stationary due to the gyroscopic arrangement, when the lying machine turns to the right hand side. These two apparent inversions,

however, may easily be removed, if required or desired, in a known manner by means of optical reversing systems.

l have not attempted to explain all of the minute details of the construction of the apparatus, `for it will be understood by those, to whom this specihcation is addressed, that the pr tion to practice I ind that the two forms described and shown herein are most eflicient and preferred embodiments, but. realizing that certain conditions will necessarily vary in concurrence with the adoption of my apparatus, l desire to emphasize the 'fact that various minor changes in the details of construction and inthe proportion of parts may be resorted to when required, without sacrificing any of the advantages ot my invention as defined in the appended claims.

llhat I claim is l. An apparatus 'of the type described coniprising a gyroscope, a casingV therefor having a reitelence line thereon, a liquid container for said casing, a support, a Cardan mounting connecting said container to said support, an eye-piece and an object lens mounted on said container, a prism system :interposed between the eye-piece and theV object lens, the eye-piece and prism. system being arranged so that both the reference line on the gyroscope easing and any ob-l jects vertically below the support are visible throi'igh the eye-piece.

in vam?aratus of the type described comprising a gyroscope, a casingtherefor lmving` a reference line thereon, a liquid container' for said casing, a support, a Cardan mor-.nting` connecting said container to said support, an eye-piece and an object lens mounted on said container, a prism system interposed between the eye-piece and the object lens, the eye-piece and prism system being arranged yso that both the reference line on the gyroscope casing and any objects `vertically below the support are visible through the eye-piece, and-the liquid container and support Ahaving' reference lines thereon for indicating the lateral inclination of said support. A

2?. in apparatus ot the type described comprising a gyroscope, a spherical casing therefor having a reference line circumferentially disposed thereon and a graduated scale disposed aty right angles to said line, a liquid container for said casing, a transparent plate in the wall of said container for exposing said scale to view, asupport, a transparent plate carried by said support and having a reference line arranged opposite to the plate in said container, a Cardan mounting connecting said container to said support, an eye-piece and an object y lts will 'necess rily be of the proper. size and relationship, and will be properly lens mounted on said contanexc7 a prism sys- In Witness whereof I have hereunto set tem nterposeld between the eyepiece and the my hand in presence of two Witnesses.

object lens, tle eye-piece and prism system being arranged so that both the reference VOLFGANG OTTO' line on the gyrosoope casing and any ob- 1/Ttnesses: y

jects vertically belowiihe support are visible R. KAsPARoI-I,

through the eye-piece. EDITH DIssE. 

